Job 17:8
The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent are stirred against the godless.
The upright are appalled at this
The term "upright" refers to those who live righteously and in accordance with God's laws. In the context of Job, the upright are those who maintain their integrity despite suffering. The word "appalled" suggests a strong emotional reaction, indicating that the righteous are deeply disturbed by the injustices and suffering that Job is experiencing. This reaction is consistent with the biblical theme that the righteous are sensitive to evil and injustice (Psalm 119:53). The suffering of the innocent, like Job, challenges the understanding of divine justice, which is a central theme in the book.

and the innocent are stirred against the godless
The "innocent" here are those who are blameless or without guilt, similar to Job's description at the beginning of the book (Job 1:1). They are "stirred," meaning they are moved to action or indignation, against the "godless," those who live without regard for God or His commandments. This phrase highlights the tension between the righteous and the wicked, a common theme throughout the wisdom literature (Proverbs 29:27). The godless often prosper while the innocent suffer, which is a source of confusion and frustration for the faithful. This tension is also seen in the Psalms, where the prosperity of the wicked is a frequent lament (Psalm 73:3-12). The stirring of the innocent against the godless can be seen as a call to maintain faith and integrity despite the apparent success of the wicked, reflecting the ultimate justice of God that will prevail.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. The Upright
Refers to those who live righteously and in accordance with God's laws. In this context, they are appalled by the injustices and suffering that Job endures.

3. The Innocent
Those who are morally pure and free from guilt. They are stirred or provoked by the actions and attitudes of the godless.

4. The Godless
Individuals who live without regard for God or His commandments. They are often seen as the source of injustice and suffering in the world.

5. The Book of Job
A poetic and philosophical book in the Old Testament that explores themes of suffering, justice, and the sovereignty of God.
Teaching Points
Righteous Indignation
The reaction of the upright and innocent to injustice is one of righteous indignation. This is a natural and appropriate response to the presence of evil and godlessness in the world.

Moral Sensitivity
Believers are called to maintain a sensitivity to sin and injustice, being stirred to action and prayer when confronted with the godlessness around them.

Community of the Righteous
The upright and innocent form a community that stands against the godless. Christians are encouraged to support one another in maintaining righteousness and opposing evil.

God's Justice
While the godless may seem to prosper temporarily, believers can trust in God's ultimate justice and righteousness, knowing that He will vindicate the upright.

Encouragement in Suffering
Job's experience reminds believers that suffering is not always a result of personal sin, and the reactions of the upright can serve as encouragement to those enduring trials.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the reaction of the upright and innocent in Job 17:8 challenge us to respond to injustice in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we cultivate a community that supports righteousness and opposes godlessness, as seen in Job 17:8?

3. How do the themes in Job 17:8 relate to the teachings in Psalm 37 and Proverbs 29:27 about the fate of the wicked and the righteous?

4. What can we learn from Job's experience about maintaining faith and integrity in the face of suffering and injustice?

5. How does understanding God's ultimate justice provide comfort and encouragement when we are appalled by the actions of the godless?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 37
This Psalm contrasts the fate of the wicked with that of the righteous, similar to the themes in Job 17:8, where the upright are appalled by the actions of the godless.

Proverbs 29:27
This verse speaks about the righteous detesting the unjust, which aligns with the reaction of the upright and innocent in Job 17:8.

Habakkuk 1:13
The prophet Habakkuk questions why God tolerates the treacherous, paralleling the sentiments of the upright and innocent in Job 17:8.
The Just Holds on His WayE. Johnson Job 17:1-16
People
Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Appalled, Aroused, Astonied, Astonished, Evil-doers, Godless, Hypocrite, Innocent, Profane, Stir, Stirred, Stirreth, Stirs, Surprised, Troubled, Ungodly, Upright, Wrong
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 17:7

     4846   shadow
     5134   blindness, natural
     5136   body
     5796   bereavement, experience
     5970   unhappiness

Library
9Th Day. Persevering Grace.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "The righteous shall hold on his way."--JOB xvii. 9. Persevering Grace. Reader! how comforting to thee amid the ebbings and flowings of thy changing history, to know that the change is all with thee, and not with thy God! Thy spiritual bark may be tossed on waves of temptation, in many a dark midnight. Thou mayest think thy pilot hath left thee, and be ready continually to say, "Where is my God?" But fear not! The bark which bears thy spiritual destinies is in better
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Whether Limbo is the Same as the Hell of the Damned?
Objection 1: It would seem that the limbo of hell is the same as the hell of the damned. For Christ is said to have "bitten" [*Allusion to Osee 13:14] hell, but not to have swallowed it, because He took some from thence but not all. Now He would not be said to have "bitten" hell if those whom He set free were not part of the multitude shut up in hell. Therefore since those whom He set free were shut up in hell, the same were shut up in limbo and in hell. Therefore limbo is either the same as hell,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ Went Down into the Hell of the Lost?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ went down into the hell of the lost, because it is said by the mouth of Divine Wisdom (Ecclus. 24:45): "I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth." But the hell of the lost is computed among the lower parts of the earth according to Ps. 62:10: "They shall go into the lower parts of the earth." Therefore Christ who is the Wisdom of God, went down even into the hell of the lost. Objection 2: Further, Peter says (Acts 2:24) that "God hath raised up Christ,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Another Shorter Evening Prayer.
O eternal God and heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy gospel, and the examples of Peter, Mary Magdalene, the publican, the prodigal child, and many other penitent sinners, that thou art so full of compassion, and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners, who are heaviest laden with sin, at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts, lamenting their sins, and imploring thy grace, I should despair for mine own sins, and be utterly discouraged from
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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